The New Orleans Saints: 25 Yearsof Heroic Effort, Book 1 [Hardcover]

Christian Serpas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000

The New Orleans Saints (Book 1) describes the first 20 years of the colorful history of the team, from 1967 thru 1987. Highlights include: - Tom Dempsey's NFL record-setting 63-yard field goal. - John Gilliam's 94-yard touchdown runback on the first play of the first game. - Archie Manning's brilliant quarterbacking. - The amusing "Baghead Era". - The heroics of such players as Jim Taylor, Danny Abramowicz, Billy Kilmer, George Rogers, Chuck Muncie, Tony Galbreath, Hokie Gajan, John Fourcade and others.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Veteran sports writer CHRISTIAN SERPAS was born in New Orleans and grew up in adjacent St. Bernard Parish, where he has resided for most of his life. At age 15 he interviewed both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, combatants in Super Bowl IX, which resulted in his first published newspaper article, in the St. Bernard News. Since then, his feature stories have been published in a number of newspapers and magazines, including a series of articles on the history of professional football. In 1985 he co-hosted a local television show, "TV Open House," with his father, Paul F. Serpas. In 1990 he wrote and hosted a regularly scheduled New Orleans radio show titled "Saints Snapshots," which became a popular feature among Saints fans.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

GILLIAM'S FAMOUS RUNBACK "I was a rookie, nervous and afraid. The football was kicked down the middle, and I prayed to the Lord, 'Please go to the Flea,' but Roberts called it for me. I caught it and took off running to save my hide. I ran behind a wedge of blockers and went past them about midfield. I veered to my left, and I was running free. What a great feeling. What a super feeling!" John Gilliam recalls. "Ninety-four yards later Gilliam crossed the Rams' goal line and threw the ball over the end zone hedges into the roaring, swarming crowd, as the old steel rafters of Tulane Stadium shook under the rolling celebration. "On the first play, of the first game, of their first season, the Saints had scored a touchdown."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Acadian House Publishing (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0925417092
• ISBN-13: 978-0925417091
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The human interest viewpoint, February 6, 2010

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Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The New Orleans Saints: 25 Yearsof Heroic Effort, Book 1 (Hardcover)

I ordered this two-book set---"The New Orleans Saints: 25 Years of Heroic Effort"--for my school library after examining all options in Amazon's vast storage vaults. There were no reviews for these two books (until now), so I had to rely on the description set down on the product page. I wanted something upper elementary and middle school students could readily read without getting bogged down in statistics and verbosity.

Aside: I once worked for a newspaper editor whose thesis was that the best writing in the country at that time (early '80's) came from the pens/fingers of sports writers. After reading through this 112-page volume, I would have to agree. This set is exactly what I wanted. Even Christian Serpas (the author) agrees, for he states in his prologue:

"I tried to write the book that I, as a sports fan, would want to read, a book of events, not of statistics, but full of human interest stories, with just enough stats to illustrate the points being made in the chapters."

That you did, Mr. Serpas, that you did. As a case in point, I want to start with chapter 14, "Archie on Ice," in reference to Archie Manning's first season with the Saints in 1976-77. That was the year Hank Stram, a great offensive mind, came as coach. However, Archie's arm was really hurt. Although Stram arranged two surgeries, Manning was sidelined for recovery for most of the season. In the next year he was named NFL Player of the Week in running for three touchdowns and throwing for another to win against Chicago in week three. Then an ankle injury put him back on the bench for four games. The Saints closed with a 3-11 season and Stram was sent home. Not playing full force with this coach was always a huge disappointment for Manning.

Beginning with page one, Serpas's book takes the football fan through the hall of memories. I was a college student when Saints history began in the 1967 season when John Gilliam returned the first kickoff for a touchdown in the first league game the Saints played. What an exciting historical note! Or Tom Dempsey's record-breaking 63-yard field goal (that's his picture on the cover. Notice his hand and foot. He was a man who defied the odds to play football.)

One fact rises above all others in the first 20 years of Saints history: No matter the losses, the Saints and their fans were always colorful, especially during the "Baghead" era. In fact, it was that great spirit of comraderie and support that led Serpas to writing the book. He was in a sports bar in California where New Orleans expatriates faithfully gathered to watch the Saints play. Amidst all the cheering, Serpas thought, Why not a book about the Saints?

Book 1 covers the years 1967-1987, the first twenty years, and Book 2 the years 1988-1991. I am hoping that Book 3 will come out later this year, especially if the Saints win the Super Bowl.

Swashbuckling is a term Serpas uses to describe the expansionist Saints, who led the league as best expansionist team for at least three years. Billy Kilmer was the explosive quarterback who made it happen. Listen, during their November 2, 1969, date with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Saints and Cardinals made football history with their air attacks. "Kilmer and Johnson's Airshow set an NFL record for most total touchdowns in one game (12), along with most offensive yards, most passing yards, most points, and most PATS. The final score was 51-42, Saints' game.

Chapter 16 is entitled "SuperManning, 1978-1979." Archie Manning was named NFC Player of the Year Award and earned All-Pro status in both 1978 and 1979. I mention Manning again because of that human interest connection. His son Peyton Manning is the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, who will play the Saints in the XLIV Super Bowl in Miami on Sunday, February 7.

In 1987 the closing chapter focuses on John Fourcade, the quarterback who became the replacement player during the players' strike that lasted most of the season. Talk about a Cinderella story. On October 4, 1987, a crowd of 29,745 fans went to the Superdome to watch the replacement teams play. Fourcade threw a 82-year touchdown pass to Mike Waters, the record for longest scoring pass in Saints history, and winning by a score of 37-10.

Book 2 picks up with the 1988 season. I found Book 1 exactly long enough, filled with interesting facts and events, but mostly riotous with human interest. I look forward to Book 2! I know my library students will enjoy these books! They are just right!